High-strength, Low Alloy, Weathering steel plate is used in the fabrication of the pontoons. This steel had 5-8 times the atmospheric corrosion resistance and 30% more tensile strength than similar size A36 structural plate steel. Each pontoon has 5 bulkheads, providing 6 independent, watertight compartments. The bottoms of the pontoons are reinforced for rough terrain operations.

Three strands of specially designed, heavy duty, 127 mm (5 inch) pitch marsh buggy track chains are installed on each pontoon. The hardened track chain rollers run in pontoon channels lined with an abrasive resistant wear bar. The drive and idler sprockets are flame hardened to match the hardness of the track chain rollers.

DRIVE CHAINS

Engineering Class 78 mm (3.067 inch) pitch, high strength, heavy-duty, offset side bar drive is used to transfer power from the sealed, two stage planetary final drive gear boxes to the driven sprockets on the track chain drive sprockets.

HYDROSTATIC DRIVE

Power for the pontoon tracks is provided by the Cat 324D excavator upper's diesel engine and main hydraulic pumps through a Cat hydraulic swivel. Cat travel motor/brake combinations are mated to the sealed planetary final drives to provide independent power to each pontoon track. Standard excavator travel controls are used.